I have had a flick through and it looks like there is a lot of good information in there.

Thanks to all the people that have given me many idea's and encouraged me in my efforts. I am really excited about starting this and spending more time with Tom. I am also looking forward to next year when I have him and Amelia at home.

I also want to thank Linda and Bill for their hospitality. It was great to finally meet. Your children were all very lovely and my children really enjoyed being with you. Brigette will be having a go at making the chocolate fudge sometime soon.

Sunday, October 28, 2007

I have come to realize that I want to have people's approval when I make decisions about my life and the way I live it.

I especially want the approval of my parents and siblings. When ever they don't approve or tell me to do something contrary to what I want to do I get frightened to do it.

I know that God has called me to do what he wants and to seek approval with him rather than others, but when I make a decision about our children that the family isn't going to approve of I get all twisted up in knots and frightened of telling them.

Have any others felt this way? Have you been able to overcome wanting people's approval? What have you done to overcome this?

Serious Head Injuries Prompt Recall of Bumbo Baby Sitter Seats - New Warnings and Instructions to Be Provided To Consumers.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.Name of Product: Bumbo “Baby Sitter” SeatsUnits: About 1 millionManufacturer: Bumbo International, of South AfricaHazard: If the seat is placed on a table, countertop, chair, or other elevated surface, young children can arch their backs, flip out of the Bumbo seat, and fall onto the floor, posing a risk of serious head injuries.

Now I just have to say here, this appears to me that the problem is not the seat but the way it is used.

What kind of idiot recalls a seat because someone has misused it. Isn't it obvious that these shouldn't be put on a table top?

Back to info from Karin:

Incidents/Injuries: CPSC has received 28 reports of young children falling out of the Bumbo Baby Sitter seat, including three skull fractures, which occurred when children fell out of chairs that had been placed on tables.

Description: The bottom of the children’s seat is round and flat with a diameter of about 15 inches. It is constructed of a single piece of molded foam and comes in yellow, blue, purple, pink, aqua, and lime green. The seat has leg holes and seat back that wraps completely around the child. On the front of the seat in raised lettering is the word “Bumbo” with the image of an elephant on top. The bottom of the seat has the following words: “Manufactured by Bumbo South Africa Material: Polyurethane World Patent No. PCT: ZA/1999/00030.” The back of the seat contains the following “WARNING” – “Never use on a raised surface. Never use as a car seat or bath seat. Designed for floor level use only. Never leave your baby unattended as the seat is not designed to be totally restrictive and may not prevent release of your baby in the event of vigorous movement.”

Sold by: Target, Wal-Mart, Sears, Toys R Us, Babies R Us, USA Babies and various other toy and children’s stores nationwide, and various online sellers, from August 2003 through October 2007 for about $40.

Manufactured in: South Africa

Remedy: Consumers should never use the infant seat on a table, countertop, chair, or other elevated surface. Consumers can contact Bumbo to obtain new warning label stickers and instructions, free of charge. The new warning label will state: “WARNING – Prevent Falls; Never use on any elevated surface.” Consumers should use the Bumbo seat at ground level, but should never leave a child unattended.

Consumer Contact: Contact Bumbo International at (877) 932-8626 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit the firm’s Web site at www.bumbosafety.comBlithering idiots. :roll eyes:

Well, we homeschool and are currently wrestling with this question also. First, I think "socialization" is best done in the family, but as our kids age I am increasingly recognizing another aspect of socialization. Before becoming an adult, we have to learn how to deal with adversity and with different opinions, even hatred towards us and our religion. Now that our oldest has a pretty solid foundation, I am wondering if the next step would be to send him to institutional high school so that he can develop practical skills in dealing with this type of adversity/diversity while he still has daily contact with his parents.We have made no decisions yet, but a big part of me wonders if this would be preferable to having his first major dose of "the world" when he is an adult living far away at college or now. He would have a better foundation if we waited, but less contact with his support system.

Since it is quite a few days since I did the post I decided to bring this comment here and see what others think.

As stated yesterday Madeline has changed school's. The main reason we changed schools was because she was so unhappy and her self esteem was getting a huge beating from exclusion and bullying. The reason we changed schools is because she wasn't learning any skills from it, she was just becoming an unhappy person. In my opinion she was starting to hate the person she was and wanted to be someone different. I am pretty sure that her unhappiness stemmed from this and nothing else.

Now Madeline is only 12. Maybe things would have been very different if she had come up against the adversity when she was older. Maybe if she had been homeschooled up until now she wouldn't have been so affected by it.

In truth do we ever learn to cope with diversity or hatred? What are your thoughts on this?

Thursday, October 25, 2007

Over the last three years Madeline has had a lot of problems at school. There has been some bullying and some excluding that has just made her unhappy.

This year has been the hardest so far and some of the girls have been really nasty. I have thought about homeschooling her again but it really isn't an option with Tom getting his new pump, me relearning how to manage his diabetes and homeschooling him once he gets it. After speaking with her about it we asked her if she wanted to try another school for the last few months this year.

She did want to so she has started at our local public school around the corner today. If you could all keep her in your prayers and pray for Steve and I too. Over the next 7 weeks we need to make some decisions about our other children's education next year.

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

I see so often that when ever I make a decision in life that is God's will for me that I start to doubt it always at some time. I am so aware that the devil will try to deceive us especially when we are coming closer to God.

When I first started thinking about homeschooling I was reflecting a lot on how doing God's will brings us closer to him. I remember reading the post at Paramedic Girl's blog a story about a soul in hell and thinking about her choices and the eternal consequences they had.

I remember praying at the time that I would always make the right choices and following God's will so that I didn't have to look back on my life and regret wrong decisions. I also had a couple of discussions with Steve about choices we had made in the past and how they had bought us closer to God. Some decisions seemed wrong sometimes but years on from them we can see that they were God's way of bringing us both closer to each other and to him.

I am also very aware that Satan doesn't want us to persue God's will and will always be trying to put doubt in our minds and trying to distract us from doing it. I know that I am guilty of thinking don't worry about going to mass today or you can leave confession until next week. I even have thought a couple of times that you don't want the priest to think you are too extreme.

The story about the soul in hell says that she thought about going to Mass that day and didn't. I made a consious decision when I read it, that I would make more effort to get to daily mass and to imerse myself in all the sacraments.

Anyway I am starting to believe that my doubts yesterday were not from God or God trying to say to me, no you have it wrong. I can look back today and see lots of God-instances when Steve and I first started talking about home schooling showing us that he did want us to persue it.

So thanks for all your prayers. The next month is going to bring a lot of changes about in our family so continued prayers for us all would be apreciated.

Monday, October 22, 2007

tonight I burnt my arm while cooking tea. I have also been having lots of doubts about homeschooling and if it really is something God wants us to do. I have had some conversations with some people that make me think well maybe God doesn't want me to do this.

If you could all please pray for me while I discern his will for me. I did believe pretty strongly up until today that this is the path God wants me to take but today I have felt many doubts about my ability and if it really is the best thing.

Sunday, October 21, 2007

We have all heard it. We all have to defend against it. The very first thing I hear as soon as I mention that we are going to homeschool is what about their socialization or don't you think it is important that they mix with other children outside the family.

I have spent a lot of time thinking about this. What exactly is socialization and why is it important that a child mixes with other children outside the family?

Now my children do lots of mixing with other children outside of school. They go to a kids club, scouts, musical theatre and play soccer.

Now after much thought and prayer about this I am asking questions. I think that many people say things without really thinking about it. They don't really know what it is that a child will lack because they haven't mixed with other children in a school setting.

So for all those that think that children should attend school. I would like to know:

What is an unsocialized child like? What skills do they lack?

What age should a child start mixing with other children outside their family?

Do you think that a parent should choose the types of children their child mixes with and stop them from mixing with children who's parents have a different philosophy to us?

These questions are genuine questions. I have thought long and hard about them because I do want the best for my children. I am opening comments up and letting anonymous comments for this because I want to get answers. I will still be moderating comments though.

Saturday, October 20, 2007

2. How long have you been together? 20 years next May since we met. (Is it really that long)3. How long did you date? nearly 3 years.

4. How old is your man? 41

5. Who eats more? Usually Steve.

6. Who said “I love you” first? I cannot remember but I think it would have been me.

7. Who is taller? Steve

8. Who sings better? Steve definitely.

9. Who is smarter? He is. After all he chose me. :::grin:::

10. Whose temper is worse? Definitely mine.

11. Who does the laundry? Sam (our 13 year old) washes and hangs. I fold and put away.

12. Who takes out the trash? Steve

13. Who sleeps on the right hand side of the bed? Steve

14. Who pays the bills? me.

15. Who is better with the computer? Steve

16. Who mows the lawn? Steve.

17. Who cooks dinner? I do most of the time but Steve often helps and can prepare a great meal.

18. Who drives when you are together? Steve does most of the time. I often pick him up from work and drive then though..

19. Who pays when you go out? Steve does but like Christina says it comes from the same source.

20. Who is most stubborn? According to our 13 year old I am. I really don't know though.

21. Who is the first to admit when they are wrong? Me I think.

22. Whose parents do you see the most? We see my mother and his parents about the same amount. My father is in a nursing home and I should make more of an effort to see him when we go home.

23. Who kissed who first? Probably Steve kissed me. I was such a shy girl when it came to things like this.

24. Who asked who out? Our first date I asked him if he wanted to go for a walk to Morialta falls. This was in the car when he was driving me home from a party we had both been at.

25. Who Proposed? He did. He didn't do anything really romantic. He said I was going to ask your dad the other day if I could marry you. I was a bit shocked and said well why don't you ask me. I cannot remember what he said but that night he did ask my dad.

26. Who is more sensitive? Me.

27. Who has more friends? I do.

28. Who has more siblings? Me. I have 2 sisters and 1 brother living and a sister that died. Steve has one sister.

29. Who wears the pants in the family? We both do. We are united in every decision that needs to be made. We haven't had a situation yet that we haven't been able to compromise on and agree on the decision made.Tagging anyone that wants to do this. Just let me know below.

A MELBOURNE GP refused high-level chemotherapy, ultimately sacrificing her life to save her unborn daughter.

Family and friends farewelled Dr Ellice Hammond, 37, at a funeral service yesterday, the same day anti-solarium campaigner Clare Oliver succumbed to melanoma.

Dr Hammond lost her battle with Hodgkin's lymphoma on Sunday, three weeks after daughter Mia Ellice was born nine weeks prematurely at the Monash Medical Centre, where she remains in neonatal intensive care, The Herald Sun said today.

Dr Hammond was diagnosed in the 22nd week of pregnancy and refused high-level chemotherapy that could have saved her but might have killed Mia, whose induced birth took place on August 20.Now I don't watch the news on TV often or read many papers but I do tend to hear top news stories. This should have been on the front page of papers and on every television station. Such heroic love should be presented to the world. I didn't even hear this news from an Australian source. It was from a couple of American blogs that I read about this.

Many prayers for baby Mia and her father.

ETA here is a comment about Dr. Hammond's decision from the above article:

Mark may have overstated it, but what surprises me is that she had more consideration for an unborn child that she did love for her own husband. Had I been in his place I would have made every effort to make her reconsider. They could've replaced their unborn child with another later on after greiving, but he can't replace his wife. Now has to bring up his daughter alone for the rest of his life. Being a matyr can be taken too far at times without considering the wishes and needs of others.

What is it about an unborn child that makes someone say this? A child is not a possesion. It is not a thing that you take back if it isn't perfect. A child is a human person in their own right. A child is no more replaceable than a spouse. Children in the womb have become so devalued in our society.

I remember when Steve and I lost a baby at 9 weeks many people said to us don't worry you will have another one. This comment really hurt me. I didn't want another baby. Our baby was just as real as our other children even though we had never meet it face to face.

I spent the afternoon and evening driving our children around to all their different social activities. From 4.30 this afternoon till 9.00pm I was either driving someone, picking someone up or waiting for someone to take. We had kids club for Tom and Amelia, a party for Madeline and Brigette, soccer for Daniel, Sam, Tom and Amelia and we also picked up a couple of Daniel's friends.

Soccer was good. Tom kicked a goal and stopped quite a few when he was in goals. Amelia also had a go in goals and stopped a couple going in.

Tomorrow my in laws are coming for a visit so I probably won't be online much over the weekend.

Thursday, October 18, 2007

I was reading over at Vox Nova an article on tithing this week. I was thinking as I was reading it that we have seen God looking after us since we started tithing.

Today is pay day and I was going through our bills. After paying them all we were going to have about $100.00 to feed our family and get petrol for the fortnight. We do have savings for bills from previous fortnights when we haven't had a lot of bills but I was hoping that a fair bit of that would be used for Christmas presents and some more renovations. With the bills that we have our savings were going to be pretty insignificant.

I finished of going through our paper work and found a tax notice down the bottom. I thought what is this? We haven't received anything recently from the tax office. It was a refund cheque from 2003. I couldn't believe it. I cannot believe it has been in the bottom of our paper work for so long and shown up when we have an expensive fortnight of bills. There was much rejoicing when I told Steve and the children. It has come at just the right time.

A main water pipe burst last night around 7pm. I had a shower at about 10pm last night and had low water pressure but didn't really think anything of it.

This morning I ran a bath for Tom and Amelia and the water pressure was even lower. The school's on the eastside were all closed since they didn't have any running water. Our children's school was open (since it is on the westside) but tomorrow it will be shut probably.

We don't know when we are getting water back yet. Hopefully it won't be too long.

I have changed commments on this blog to be under complete moderation. I have had to do this because my friend from Chicago that left an anoymous comment has decided to join blogger so that he can insult me and other Catholic bloggers.

This poster calls himself Marcus. If he comes to your blog and leaves an insulting comment don't hesitate to contact me and I will give you the information to contact his isp.

Marcus if you are reading this just know that you are waisting your time posting here. None of your comments will ever be posted on my blog.

The following two video's are about children that were born with trisomy 18 (Edward's syndrome) and are true testimonies to the value of every human life. Please remember both sets of parents in your prayers.

Friday, October 12, 2007

I am looking for your best sauce recipe. The children have asked for ravioli this week and I usually buy the packet sauces for it but this week I want to make it from scratch myself. So if anyone has a spicy creamy tomato sauce recipe post it below.

Thursday, October 11, 2007

Today at 4pm the Cross and Icon that have been traveling around the world arrived in Port Augusta.

We had a handing over ceremony. There were youth present from Darwin Diocese that handed it over the the Port Augusta youth and then we had a procession around Port Augusta and stopped at several spots and reflected on different stations of the cross. It was great to walk with the Cross and Icon and let all of the town know about WYD.

The procession ended at Caritas College and there was a bbq tea and different entertainers. Daniel's band Absoulute Zero played and did a great job. This was their first public appearance.

Tomorrow morning there is going to be Reconciliation, Mass and a breakfast at the church. We have heaps of photo's so if I get a chance I will put some up tomorrow.

The WYD cross is coming to Port Augusta today. Yesterday Daniel and Sam were in the local paper and last night Daniel was on television talking about the cross. He spoke really well (even though it was only for 30 seconds).

This afternoon we will go to the church and there will be a procession with the cross around Port Augusta and over to Caritas College. There will be entertainment and tea over there. We are looking forward to taking part in the festivities. I will take some photo's to share with you all.

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Thanks to Ginny and Marie for this beautiful bouquet of flowers. Ginny and Marie have such a wonderful blog. They share many poem's and talk about all kinds of controversial topics and give their opinion which always supports our faith and a Catholic World View. Receiving a bouquet of flowers from them is such a compliment to me.

You can now subscribe to Aussie Coffee Shop in a reader. I have put the shortcut in the sidebar. I hope I didn't stuff it up for those that are already subscribed. Click on the rss feed icon in the sidebar and you can choose which reader you want to subscribe in. Thanks also Esther for bringing this to my attention. Without you saying anything I wouldn't have realized that people were having a problem.

Tuesday, October 09, 2007

Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;where there is hatred, let me sow love;where there is injury, pardon;where there is doubt, faith;where there is despair, hope;where there is darkness, light;and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master,grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;to be understood, as to understand;to be loved, as to love;for it is in giving that we receive,it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.Amen.

It reminded me of another one of theirs that I had seen so went and looked on you tube for it. I found it so decided to post it. I love this video. This is the trailer and you can purchase the video from grassroots films.

Sunday, October 07, 2007

I am approaching 2000 views on my blog. I thought it would be fun to have a competition. The person that is closest in date and time without going over will win a copy of the grassroots dvd that is previewed above.

If you go to the bottom of my blog you will see my sitemeter. I have opened it up so that anyone can read it. Go and check out all the data and see if you can guess when this blog will have had 2000 hits. You can write a time and date. I will be going on the time it is here. If you look over to the left there is a clock. showing the time here and I have changed it so that you know if it is morning or night time.

Saturday, October 06, 2007

After reading it I wanted to post a tribute to my husband. So many men work hard to provide for the families needs and it goes unnoticed and without gratitude. As well as working as a teacher full time my husband has worked on many different projects this year renovating our house. He has done the Kitchen, Knocked out walls and started our fruit garden.

This week while the girls and I were away he built my sewing cupboard and started working on our Walk in robe. He also finished of the painting out the front. Here are a couple of partially painted pictures but you will have to wait till tomorrow for the finished product. I have the finish photo's on the camera still. I also have a couple of photos of the walk in robe partially finished and will put up photos of my sewing table.

Thank you Steve for all you do. You work so hard to provide a roof over our head and keep up with all the renovations.

Friday, October 05, 2007

If you have children or grandchildren, work with children at church, or you have neighborhood children whose parents you know, please take note of the information below and pass it along to others.

Schools are distributing this book to children through the Scholastic Book Club. The name of the book is “Conversations with God.” James Dobson talked about this book twice this week. It is devastating. Parents, churches and Christian schools need to be aware of it. Please pass this information on to churches, e-mail addressees, Parents, Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, friends. Please pay special attention not only to what your kids watch on TV, in movie theaters, on the internet, and the music they listen to, but also be alert regarding the books they read.Two particular books are, Conversations with God, and Conversations with God for Teens, written by Neale D. Walsch. They sound harmless enough by their titles alone. The books have been on the New York Times best sellers list for a number of weeks, and they make truth of the statement, "Don't judge a book by its cover or title."The author purports to answer various questions asked by kids using the "voice of God". However, the "answers" that he gives are not Bible-based and go against the very infallible word of God. For instance (and I paraphrase), when a girl asks the question "Why am I a #######?" His answer is that she was 'born that way' because of genetics, just as you were born right-handed, or with brown eyes, etc. Then he tells her to go out and "celebrate" her differences.Another girls poses the question "I am living with my boyfriend. My parents say that I should marry him because I am living in sin. Should I marry him?" His reply is, "Who are you sinning against? Not me, because you have done nothing wrong."Another question asks about God's forgiveness of sin. His reply "I do not forgive anyone because there is nothing to forgive. There is no such thing as right or wrong and that is what I have been trying to tell everyone, do not judge people. People have chosen to judge one another and this is wrong, because the rule is "'judge not lest ye be judged."Not only are these books the false doctrine of the devil, but in some instances quote (in error) the Word of God. And the list goes on.These books (and others like it) are being sold to schoolchildren through (The Scholastic Book Club), and we need to be aware of what is being fed to our children. Our children are under attack.So I pray that you be sober and vigilant about teaching your children the Word of God, and guarding their exposure to worldly mediums, because our adversary, the Devil, roams about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8). We know that lions usually hunt for the slowest, weakest and YOUNGEST of its prey.Pass this on to every Believer you know. God bless! And, if you are in doubt, check out the books yourself.

The attack is on. How many parents have read the title of this book and thought what a great book for my child to read.

This author contradicts himself. Look at this paragraph:

Another question asks about God's forgiveness of sin. His reply "I do not forgive anyone because there is nothing to forgive. There is no such thing as right or wrong and that is what I have been trying to tell everyone, do not judge people. People have chosen to judge one another and this is wrong, because the rule is "'judge not lest ye be judged."

Of course there is no such thing as right and wrong but to judge someone is wrong. Now I really see why Louise has a label blithering idiots. There are so many out there.God blessTherese

Thursday, October 04, 2007

We have had three fun days away. I have missed the boys but it has been really good to get away with just the girls.

The first day was spent catching up with family. We went to my mother's house and my sister came over with her baby and my brother, sister in law and their two daughter's also came to visit. I took Brigette to her God parents to stay for a night and the other two girls and I went back to mum's to stay for the night.

On Wedensday we went and meet Louse from Purcell's Chicken Voluntary . We had a great lunch and talked about things that Catholic mum's talk about when they get together.

Today was our shopping day. We got the girls some new shoes and a new top each. We went out to see my mum again and took her to see my father (who is in a nursing home) and then took her food shopping. We went and saw my in laws for a short visit and then I took the girls out for tea. We went to Charlies all you can eat and I am really full.

Tomorrow we will be leaving early and getting back home around lunch time hopefully. I am looking forward to seeing the boys.

Today I turn 41. Because Daniel was working from 10.30 till 7.00 Steve and I decided to go out for breakfast so that Daniel could watch the other children for us. It was good to have some time alone and talk about things.

When we got back from breakfast the children had cleaned up the main living area's and outside. I was so surprised. I told them that this was the best present I have ever received. They even folded the washing (but left it all on the table). I really shouldn't complain though. They know that folding and doing washing is the job I hate the most.

Please pray for a cure for Type One Diabetes

Our sons Tom and Christopher and our daughter Amelia are type one diabetics. We pray everyday for a cure. We do not want one by illicit means though so don't support any organisation that contributes to Embryonic Stem Cell Research. Click on the photo of Tom and Christopher to read about why I am against using Embryonic Stem cells for a cure.

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Tom's and Christopher's insulin pump

New book: Faith Quilt.

All proceeds from sales of "FAITH QUILT" going to "Casa de Amor Children's Homes in Bolivia" and "Sarah's Covenant Homes in India" Two truly extraordinary organisations that take in the most needy children and give them a place of love and security to call home.

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Help find a cure for type one diabetes

clink on the picture of Denise Faustman to see what work she is doing to find a cure for type one diabetes